Letter-box.



G. P. SNEAD.

LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wiimeoaao SWUWWIZOZ Patented May 26, 1914.

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I I\III IIIIIIIla/IIIIIIIIIIIII/ G. P. SNEAD.

LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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abfo zm'eg ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. SNEAID, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO ISAAC D. GIBBS, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

LETTER-BOX.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE P. SNEAD, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Letter- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail or letter boxes, and has particular reference to apparatus of this character provided with audible signal means which must be operated for a prolonged period, more or less, before the mail or the like can be inserted into the box.

An important object of this invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, convenient in use, strong, durable, and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, a portion thereof being broken away, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the cover or lid of the box elevated, Fig. 5 is a face view of the audible signal apparatus, the cap or bell portion thereof being removed, and, Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view through the complete audible signal apparatus, parts thereof being shown in elevation for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 7 designates a mail or letter receiving box or receptacle, preferably formed of sheet metal. The lower end of this box or receptacle is formed open and is normally closed by a hinged door 8, connected with the box or receptacle 7, as shown at 9. This lower door 8 is held in its closed position by a hasp 10, having an opening for receiving a staple 11, fixed upon the box or receptacle 7. A padlock (not shown) is passed through the staple 11, as is customary. The lower door 8 is rovided along its edges with an upstanding flange 12, for receiving the lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Serial No. 762,026.

end of the box or receptacle 7 and stiffening or reinforcing the door 8. The upper end of the box or receptacle 7 is permanently closed by an end or head 13, provided with an opening 14, for receiving the mail or letters. The function of this end or head is to prevent the improper removal of the mail or letters from the box after they have been inserted therein.

The numeral 15 designates an upper cover or lid, provided with depending flanges 16, which receive the upper end of the box or receptacle 7 and also reinforce or stifien the upper lid. This upper lid or cover is hinged or pivotally connected with the box or receptacle 7, as shown at 17. A suitably stiff spring or springs 18 are provided, for automatically returning the upper lid or cover to its closed position when moved therefrom and released. This upper lid or cover is provided-with a handle or knob 19, by means of which the same may be readily moved to its open or closed position.

Disposed within the box or receptacle 7 and preferably near the upper end thereof,

are stationary bearings 20, through which is journaled a substantially horizontal rotatable operating shaft 21, arovided at its outer end with a crank 22, carrying a handle or knob 23. The operating shaft 21 extends through an opening 24; formed in a support 25. This support may be a door or a portion of the door frame, such as the door as shown at 30. As more clearly shownin Fig. 3, an upstanding arm or bracket 31 is rigidly connected with the upper end of the reciprocatory rack-bar 28, this upstanding arm being pivotally connected with a depending finger or lug 32, as shown at 33. The depending finger or lug 32 isrigidly connected with a slide bar 3a, which is longitudinally movably mounted within a guide way 35, attached to the inner surface of the lid or cover 15, as shown. It is thus seen that by rotatin the operating shaft 21, the pinion 27 will e evate the rack-bar 28, which through the medium of the connecting with relation thereto.

means, will swing the lid or cover 15 to its open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The slide 34 being free to move longitudinally within the guide-way 35, prevents any binding in the connecting means between the rack-bar and the lid or cover 15. The spring or springs 18 are sutficiently stiff or strong to return the lid or cover 15 to its closed position, whereby the shaft 21 is rotated in an opposite direction. It is obvious that the lid or cover 15 may be moved by taking hold. of the handle or knob 19, whereby the rack-bar 28 and associated elements will rotate the shaft 21.

Disposed within the house or dwelling is an audible signal apparatus 36, which is preferably mounted upon the support 25 and is operated for a prolonged period, more or less, by the rotation of the shaft 21 when the lid or cover 15 is being swung to its outer position or moved upwardly sufficiently to permit the insertion of the mail or letters through the opening 14. This audible signal apparatus comprises an inner fixed base 37, provided centrally thereof with a post 38, upon which is rotatably mounted a striker arm 39. Rigidly connected with this striker arm is a pinion 40, engaged by a large pinion 41, which is rigidly connected with a small pinion 42. The pinion 41 is rotatably mounted upon a fixed post or shaft 43. The small pinion 42 is engaged by a second large pinion 44, with which the operating shaft 21 is rigidly connected, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. It is thus seen that the striker arm 39 will be rotated upon the rotation of the operating shaft 21. The rotatable striker arm 39 carries at its opposite ends pins 45, provided with large heads or caps 46.

The numeral 47 designates striker rings, which are mounted upon the pins 45 and positively prevented from moving therefrom by the head or caps 46 and being free to partake of restricted radial movement These striker rings 47 engage an inwardly extending lug 48, rigidly connected with a gong or bell portion 49, provided with a central boss 50, which has screw-threaded engagement with the central post 38.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :1Vhen the postman desires to insert the letters in the box or receptacle 7, he turns the crank 22, which causes a rotation of the operating shaft 21. This operating Shaft moves the rack-bar 28 upwardly for swinging the lid or cover15 to its open position, or outwardly sufficiently to allow the postman to insert the mail or letters through the opening 14. Attention is called to the fact that the pinion 27 is preferably formed comparatively small, whereby the operating shaft 21 has to be rotated for a prolonged period, more or less, for bringing the lid or cover 15 to its proper open position. This rotation of the operating shaft '21 is imparted to the rotatable striker arm 39, whereby the audible signal apparatus is sounded continuously for a prolonged period, more or less. This is an important feature of the invention as it is very advantageous that some means should be provided for necessitating the continuous operation of an audible signal apparatus for a prolonged period, more or less, upon the insertion of the mail or letters into the box or receptacle 7. Instead of the postman turning the crank 22 for elevating the lid or cover 15, he may raise the lid or cover by taking hold of the handle or knob 19. In this event, it is obvious that the audible signal apparatus will be sounded. In addition to serving as means to appraise the occupants of the house or dwelling that mail has been deposited in the box, the apparatus may serve as an ordinary door bell. When this is the case, the caller will operate the audible signal apparatus by turning the crank 22.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub joined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mail box, of a lid pivotally connected therewith, a rack-bar adapted to move longitudinally of the mail box, a slide longitudinally movably mounted upon the lid, connecting means between the rack-bar and slide, a pinion engaging the rack-bar, and audible signal apparatus connected with the pinion to be operated upon the rotation of the same.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mail box, of a pivoted lid for covering and uncovering the upper end thereof, an upstanding rack-bar to move longitudinally of the box, guide means connected with the box and receiving the rack-bar therein, a slide mounted upon the lid, guide means receiving the slide and attached to the lid, connect-in means between the rack-bar and slide, a pinion tomove the rack-bar, a shaft connected with the pinion, and an audible signal apparatus operated upon the rotation of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE P. SNEAD.

Witnesses M. DANAHER, PALMER DANAHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0!; Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

